Highlights included a female Merlin and 50+ Skylarks at Northcliffe, a Short-eared Owl and several small, mixed groups of Linnet & Twite at Head Farm, a more accomadating party of 42 Twite feeding along Old Fall hedge set-aside, a male Pintail close in with Mallards on the sea, five Stonechats and four Hares scattered along the route.

(Selwicks Bay)

click on images to enlarge

(Twite flock, Old Fall)

(Short-eared Owl, Head Farm)

(Rock Pipits, South Landing)

(male Pintail with Mallards on the sea)

(South Landing)

Bridlington Harbour, 20th December 2006

half an hour on the southern edge of the harbour (by the Spa Royal Hall) watching several Purple Sandpipers and five (very relaxed) Red-throated Divers, plus Turnstones, Sanderlings, Redshanks etc.

recent records

END OF FEBRUARY 2008: at least one Mediterranean Gull still regularly visiting Clapton Common Pond; Blackcaps singing in private garden (Albion Road) and Abney Park Cemetery, where several pairs of Stock Doves are paired up for breeding; a Kingfisher and up to seven Reed Buntings present at Stoke Newington Reservoirs. Winter thrushes still well represented, with Redwings in Clissold Park and high numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares at Walthamstow Marshes. Clissold Park has the usual winter ducks, including up to ten Pochard and 15 Shoveler.

LATE FEBRUARY 2008: Great Black-backed Gull, Kingfisher, singing Blackcap and several Reed Buntings at Stoke Newington reservoirs (& 3 Jackdaws over on 25th); 2 Siskins in Abney Park, 23rd; Jack Snipe, up to 27 common Snipe, up to 22 Meadow Pipits, pair of Stonechats, good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing at Walthamstow Marshes.

MID-FEBRUARY 2008: up to 2 Mediterranean Gulls present at Clapton Common, coming down to food with Black-headed Gulls. Blackcap singing along northern perimeter of Abney Park Cemetery from mid-month. Red-crested Pochard pair still present at the East Reservoir until 15th at least. Peacock butterfly in Clissold Park, 08/02 - the first of the year. Yellow-legged Gull and Lesser Redpoll present at Stoke Newington Res., 08/02. Female Brambling still present in Clissold Park (SE corner), last seen 08/02. Goldcrests and Redwings widespread locally. Redshank flushed from Walthamstow Marshes, 08/02.

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Lucky enough to spend plenty of my time enjoying birds and wildlife, I'm based here on the Yorkshire coast, on the western seaboard of the North Sea (where I grew up, and returned to several years ago). Among other things I'm a field ornithologist, nature writer, speaker and guide, comms specialist for conservation causes and a musician / songwriter with Morning Bride.